Wandering is a very serious concern, especially for people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. There are a number of products on the market that can help locate an individual who might have gotten lost. An effective program that has gained recognition is known as Project Lifesaver. This program is designed to find and rescue an individual who has wandered away from his or her residence. The program works by placing a tracking device on the wrist of the affected individual, which emits signals to the local police, sheriff, or other public safety department. Using advanced radio technology, law enforcement officers are able to locate an individual in less than 30 minutes on average. This can give caregivers and loved ones peace of mind and save hours or even days in the search and rescue process. However, this program is not yet available nationwide. Contact Project Lifesaver directly to see if it is available in your area at (877) 580-LIFE (5433) or visit www.projectlifesaver.org/site/ for further information. Also, you might want to check out an article on wandering in the winter 2008 issue of care ADvantage, AFA's free magazine for caregivers, at www.afacareadvantage.org.
Thanks for your question Bob. There are several posts regarding wandering on our site. Thought you might want to check them out.
Wandering: A New DVD Explains it All
Wandering Behavior in Alzheimer's Patients
Tracking Bracelets Rescue Alzheimer's Patients Who Wander
Alzheimer's and Wandering: The Death of a Brave Woman
Hope this helps and all the best, sue
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